Instructable of the day: Making hydrogen from soda cans using liquid metal
Do you remember when we told you about the scientists from Purdue who were working on a technique to produce hydrogen on-demand from aluminum using gallium and water? It seems that there are some enterprising individuals who were intrigued by the work of Dr. Woodall's experiments. Take a look at this Instructable, which teaches you how to capture some hydrogen using a similar technique, this time using strips of aluminum from soda cans covered with a "liquid metal" which are then immersed in water. The reaction that takes place releases hydrogen at a rapid rate, according to the article. We're not sure that this process is cost effective or practical for large-scale capture of hydrogen, but we do think that the technique is interesting enough to share.
Note that the comments for the article indicate that the gallium is recoverable. Any aluminum used will be lost, as it is the reaction of the aluminum and water which releases the hydrogen.
[Source: Instructable]
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
Chris M 10:48PM (1/27/2008)
Liquid Gallium (melting point 30 deg. C/ 86 deg F) is not essential, anything that can break through the aluminum oxide surface film will work. Sodium hydroxide will work, as will some acids.
The fact remains that it is an inefficient and expensive source for H2, due to the cost and energy required to make aluminum.
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Jimbo 12:31AM (1/28/2008)
Actually, the refining of aluminum from its oxide is incredibly energy intensive. It requires tremendous amounts of electricity. I wonder if it would be better just to apply that electricity to get hydrogen from water than to use aluminum to make hydrogen and then recover the aluminum.
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